Analysis and Features

Jet Airways’ Q2 FY2016 profits still reflect some concerns

Jet Airways Airbus A330-300 VT-JWQ. Image copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Jet Airways recently reported results for the second quarter (July – Sept).  Profit for the quarter was at 87.5 crores however, that does not give the complete picture. Analysed further the numbers bring up several trends. Lower fuel prices have helped bring down costs significantly Jet Airways CASK (cost per available seat kilometre) is in the range of Rs 4.14 …

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Debunking Indian media’s sensationalist aviation reporting

Air India Airbus A321 VT-PPO. Seen here handing in the early morning light at Bangalore Airport.

When it comes to aviation reporting, the some papers and TV channels of the mainstream India media are world leaders in sensationalism, hype, and scare-mongering. Regardless of the situation, even for the most minor and routine aviation incident, the opening para will contain a phrase similar to “Passengers had a miraculous escape” and “cheated death”. So rampant is the frenzy …

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Why are Air India’s Dreamliners giving trouble when others are not?

Air India Boeing 787-8 VT-ANE.

Last July, India’s civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told the Indian parliament, national carrier Air India (AI) experienced delays in 318 of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner equipped flights till June 30, 2014 due to a variety of technical snags. This translated to over three per cent of the total Dreamliner equipped flights operated by the airline. In airline jargon, …

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Infographics: India domestic airlines’ performance for August 2015

A view of the ramp at Bangalore Airport.

We bring you another instalment of infographics showing historic performance over the last 12 months, of India’s domestic air passenger market as of August 2015. Infographics are based on data published by India’s civil aviation regulator, the DGCA. We encourage you to study all the infographics, and then help us answer “The SpiceJet Conundrum” posed at the end of page. …

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Air India readies 787 Dreamliner grounded for nine months

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-AND grounded for nine months in a maintenance hangar at Mumbai

National carrier Air India is preparing its second Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-AND for flight after grounding the aircraft in the maintenance hangars for over nine months. The aircraft is recorded to have last flown on new year’s day 2015. Bangalore Aviation has received these exclusive photos. This is the second case of an Air India Dreamliner being grounded for over …

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Why incumbent airlines should accept 5/20 rule removal

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

In a sea of ill-conceived rules governing Indian commercial airlines, the 5/20 rule, which requires Indian carriers to wait five years and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before they can fly the lucrative and profitable international routes is one of the worst. No such restriction applies to the foreign airlines flying IN to India. The newcomers Tata-SIA Vistara and …

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Independent analysis of Jet Airways Q1 fiscal 2015-2016 performance

Jet Airways Airbus A330-300 VT-JWQ. Image copyright Vedant Agarwal.

The below analysis has been performed by an aviation consultant and industry professional completely independently of Bangalore Aviation. The views expressed are not ours. – Editor Jet Airways reported a profit of INR 2,217 million or USD 35 million for the 1st quarter of FY16. The results are fairly interesting when one looks at RASK and CASK comparisons that show …

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The incestuous relationship between Air India and the government

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner line number 35 test registered N1015 (later became VT-ANH) at the India Aviation show, Hyderabad March 2012. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

Air India is an enigma. It was the first airline in the world with an all jet fleet, ahead of the Americans and Europeans. From being the epitome of luxury, grace and hospitality, the palace in the skies, the airline is, today, a bottomless pit swallowing crores of tax-payer rupees. This despite having one of the most modern wide-body fleets …

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Infographics: Domestic performance of Indian carriers over last 12 months

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

Bangalore Aviation has produced a set of graphics which provide significant insight in the domestic operating performance of Indian carriers for the last 12 months. The source data is obtained from India’s regulator The Directorate General of Civil Aviation. On time performance One of the key selling points of IndiGo, India’s largest domestic airline, is, on time performance (OTP). As …

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Global distribution systems and airline ticket distribution in India

Airline global distribution system network. Graphic by Devesh Agarwal

With the recent news around Lufthansa levying a surcharge for all bookings via global distribution systems (GDS), the debate on airline distribution has returned to the forefront. We examine the distribution strategies of various airlines in the Indian context Despite the push by airlines to offer direct bookings via their websites, these global distribution systems still handle significant booking volumes …

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IndiGo aircraft order MOU expired. What questions investors should ask IndiGo.

IndiGo_A320 classic VT-INT. Photo: Devesh Agarwal.

India’s largest domestic airline Indigo filed a 557 page draft red herring prospectus (DHRP) which is a preliminary document towards an initial public offering (IPO). For 10% of the company, Indigo is targeting an IPO of approximately $400 million (Rs 2,500 crores), effectively giving the airline a valuation of $4 billion. The funds from the IPO are to be used …

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A day of revival at Malaysia Airlines and lessons for our national carrier

The 1st of June was a day of revival for Malaysia Airlines. As of that day all 20,000 odd employees were served termination letters and all assets transferred to a new entity. The new company will subsequently re-employ 2/3rds of the staff but on new terms and contracts. This drastic but necessary decision is being carried out given the precarious …

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Different yet similar: Network Strategies for Indian carriers

A view of the ramp at Bangalore Airport.

Indian carriers seem to be all chasing the same passenger. A cursory look at capacity deployment across seven carriers shows very little variance in terms of a domestic network strategy. However, as one starts to delve deeper some differences tend to emerge. Overall planners focus on three things: schedule offerings (and consequently slots); aircraft utilization; and feed (just a fancy name …

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India’s domestic air passenger traffic and airline performance for March 2015

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

We invite you to please read all the way to the bottom. We have introduced a new style for this monthly report and seek your inputs. India’s domestic air passenger traffic statistics for the month of March 2015, show some curious numbers, while by and large maintaining the status-quo. Passengers carried Domestic air passenger traffic for the first calendar quarter …

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Aviation trivia: Launch customers of Airbus aircraft

Airbus Plant Visit.

This second article in our launch customer series will be on the launch customers of all Airbus aircraft. We have also included the predicted launch customers of some aircraft in this list. Airbus A300 Family A300B2-100 Air France A300B2-200 South African Airways A300B4-100 Germanair A300B4-200 Hapag-Lloyd Flug A300B4-200FF Garuda Indonesia A300C4 South African Airways A300-600 Saudi Arabian Airlines A300-600R American …

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Show minimum government, maximum governance in India’s next VIP aircraft

Air India Boeing 747-400 VT-ESP Ajanta. Image copyright Devesh Agarwal.

For over 25 years, the venerable ‘Queen of the skies’ the Boeing 747-400, of the national carrier, Air India, has served as India’s VIP (very important person) international transport. Tagged as ‘Air India One’ two of these aircraft are used by the President, the Vice President, and the Prime Minister of India on their international trips, even if to neighbouring …

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Jet Airways Q2 FY 2014-2015 results analysis

Jet Airways' Boeing 737-800 VT-JBD

by Ameya Joshi Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline reported its third quarter fiscal year 2014-15 (FY2015) results on February 6, 2015, reporting a wafer thin operating profit after seven consecutive quarters. The airline moved to full service operations in December 2014 and the quarter reflected a mix of full service and low cost operations. Wafer thin profits The airline …

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Remove 5/20 rule to encourage Indian competition to foreign airlines

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

One of the most regressive pieces of Indian civil aviation policy, the ‘5/20 rule‘ requires Indian carriers to fly for a minimum of five years and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before they can operate overseas routes, while allowing foreign carriers to operate to India, unhindered by any such norms. With implications on competitiveness, airline networks and aircraft utilisation, …

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Aviation trivia: Launch customers of Boeing aircraft

Boeing 787-9 ZB001 N789EX at Farnborough air show 2014. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

With the Airbus A350 recently entering service, there have been quite a few launches and with them launch customers in the last few years. To look back over the years I have started compiling a list of the launch customers of various aircraft. So this first article will begin with the launch customers of all Boeing jet aircraft. (By launch …

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Air India pays 18x delay compensation of private airlines. To deduct salaries of those responsible.

A tail parade of each of Air India's Boeing aircraft as in 2011. The 747-400, 777-300ER, 777-200LR and 737-800.

In a bold move national carrier Air India has put errant employees and vendors who delay flights on notice. The airline will deduct salaries of employees and caterers found responsible for delays of flights. The Maharaja which has one of the worst one-time performance (OTP) records amongst Indian carriers, has been instructed by the top bureaucrat in the civil aviation …

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